Myth or Fact: Eating an entire tray of crudites is recommended by 11 out of 10 physicians because it's not as fattening as eating an entire tray of bacon.

I know, I know...I've been on hiatus.  Nothing that exciting has been happening in and around ATL anyway so I promise you haven't missed anything. 

This holiday season, be thankful that you're reading this blog right now because you didn't miss the following BIG ANNOUNCEMENT...  First though, let me say that I hope whatever holiday(s) you are choosing to celebrate with loved ones, or choosing not to celebrate with loved ones because you just can't muster the strength to attend one more family dinner with your annoying aunt that makes everyone unwrap gifts one at a time "so we can all see what you get", or the crotchety uncle that does nothing but eat three heaping plates of food in one sitting then bitches at everyone else for eating the food he was going to have for leftovers to take to work, Happy Holidays!

Now...the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:

Because money doesn't grow on trees, but trees are used to create paper for coupons and gift certificates, I have four (4) coupons for a FREE APPETIZER at D.B.A. Barbecue for some lucky thATList readers!!  Love, love, love this place.  I recommend you go on Monday nights for $4 Yuengling pitchers and definitely try the creamed corn (it's unlike any other creamed corn you've ever tried before).

So how do you win?  Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Christmas song, and the short version of a story about why it's your favorite.  Doesn't have to be a long explanation, but all comments with their reason as 'Because.' will be disqualified.  I'll pick the winners on January 3rd @ 10:00pm so be sure to get your comment in if you want your free appetizer. 

Here's my favorite song.  I'm not blogging again until next year!

A few of the finer, and lush-er, things in life.

Do you have a refined palate?  An ear that can recognize musical talent from a mile away?  Both?  Neither?  The following events could help you impress your boss with a bunch of newfound culinary and musical knowledge.  Or some of these events could lead to excess alcohol intake and kill off some of the few brain cells you have left.  You only live once, but it only takes one slip of the tongue to hit on your boss's wife at the company Christmas party and be fired.  Choose wisely.  The more you know...

Whiskey Dinner at Fado's Irish Pub

Thursday, November 18th @ 7:00pm

Four course dinner, each course being paired with a different whiskey.  Reservations required and seats are limited!

Don't like whiskey?  Try Vodka instead!

Tongue & Groove-VIP Thursday presented by 3 Vodka

Thursday, November 18th 7-10pm
Distilled from soy, no sugar added, gluten-free vodka.  They also have an "energy vodka" you can try. 

Metropolitan Opera Guild District Auditions
Saturday, November 20th  10:00am @ Kennesaw State University
Straight from the Met's website...
The purpose of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions is to:
1. To discover exceptional young talent.
2. To provide a venue for young opera singers from all over the country and at all different levels of experience to be heard by a representative of the Metropolitan Opera and to assist those with the greatest potential in their development.
3. To search for new talent for the Metropolitan Opera and the Met's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.
This is FREE to attend!

Inman Park Village Culinary Tours

Take a 2.5 mile walking tour of to 6-7 restaurants that will "showcase the neighborhood".  You'll also be given a short history lesson on what makes Inman Park the most special-est part of Atlanta.  There's only room for 12 people on each tour so buy your ticket now.  Enter coupon code ACT2010 at checkout for 40% off!  Next tour is December 11th.

Last but not least, one event that I am DEFINITELY attending...just can't decide which date yet!

Yacht Rock Revue

Don your finest sailing gear and head to one of the locations below to rock to the sultry sounds of the 70s & 80s...you won't be disappointed.

Wednesday, November 24th @ 8 Traxx (East Andrews Upstairs)

Friday, December 10th @ Park Tavern **2 Shows!** 8pm & 10pm

The holidays are fast approaching and I can't find my kinara.

Hello, thATList faithful readers! A lot has happened since my last post so here's a recap of all the exciting changes thATList has seen.

First of all, I want to point out that although I am trying to keep up this calendar of exciting events for all of you to attend, we have to face the ugly truth...the holidays are a few weeks away. This means bidding farewell to fun weekend festivals and saying hello to mediocre office holiday parties. Lukewarm cheeseburger sliders and a two drink ticket maximum might be some people's idea of fun, but I personally wouldn't mind if I entered into hibernation this weekend and didn't wake up until the Midtown Steamhouse Oyster Festival.

Since hibernation is out of the question, I figured I should make myself and this blog even more useful. I have added a new page; thATList Discounts (see tabs at top of this page). thATList Discounts page contains links to all the collective buying websites that have offerings in Atlanta. Check it out because I guarantee you there is at least one collective buying site on thATList that you haven't heard of yet. One of those sites might even have something you could send Grandma Millie as a Saint Nicholas Day/Eid'ul-Adha/St. Lucia Day/Channukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa/Omisoka gift. Happy shopping.

Secondly, I found us another event with FREE ALCOHOL! East Andrews is celebrating their 8th anniversary on Friday, November 12th. OPEN BAR compliments of Grey Goose from 8:00-10:00pm. You have to RSVP via email. Sign yourself up for free cocktails by emailing party@eastandrews.com.

Last but not least, I'd like to take the opportunity to note a few firsts...thATList's first commenter (Chris) and follower (Hillary)! A special shout out to both of you because if it wasn't for the two of you, I would've shut this thing down faster than a feces-laden public swimming pool. Okay, that was a lie. But knowing that at least two people have read this gives me that warm, fuzzy, I-shouldn't-have-had-that-last-beer-but-I'm-still-okay-to-drive feeling inside. To the other 2.7 people reading this...what are you waiting for?! Comment on what you love and loathe about this blog. Share this post on Facebook and Twitter by clicking on the icons located below this post or subscribe already! Stop being selfish and share thATList with your each of your siblings, frenemies, and baby mamas/daddies...they might thank you for it. If they don't thank you, be content in knowing thATList loves you for trying to spread the word.

Itzhak Perlman playing AND conducting in Atlanta?! Christmas and my birthday at the same time?!

Those of you that could care less about the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, or any other orchestra for that matter, can probably skip the rest of this and wait for my next post. To the rest of you: read on and make plans to attend!

Atlanta Symphony Hall
Nov 4, 6, & 7 - 8:00pm
Get Tickets Here

I haven't honed my writing skills enough to adequately represent what the world and I feel about Itzhak Perlman...so here's a link to his biography on the Kennedy Center's website.

Seriously consider attending this! I promise, you won't be disappointed by his playing.

Now, a video clip that should make a 5 year old want to see Itzhak Perlman play...although I don't think 5 year olds are my target audience. Then again, knowing some of my friends that are probably reading this act like 5 year olds sometimes, I'd like to retract my previous statement. This video fits my target audience to a 'T'.

Chomp and Stomp...Update

One more bit of information on Chomp and Stomp:

Chili will NOT be served until 12:00! No need to get out of bed early!

Bundle up and bring an empty stomach. See you there!

This is not the year 3910...yet.

I honestly don't know why all the events in the left sidebar show dates with the year 3910. Wait a minute...maybe I finally got that time machine I wanted after all!

So if you can remember to tell yourself when you're reading thATList of Upcoming Events that it's still 2010, you shouldn't have to miss out on any of the fun.

Working on a fix for this...but no promises.

It may be chilly, but there'll definitely be chili!

I don't know where else I would rather be this weekend than in Cabbagetown for the Chomp and Stomp Chili Cook-Off and Festival!

Saturday, November 6th

11:00am-6:00pm

A few important notes on this one:

1) Arrive early if you want chili. I arrived last year just before 1:00 and the chili had already started to run out.

2) The festival is free to attend. However, if you want to taste as much chili as your palate and intestinal tract can handle, there will be a fee. Nothing is posted on the website regarding the cost but if memory serves me right, last year they sold spoons for $5.

Arrive early, stay late, stuff yourself with chili, and digest it all while listening to bluegrass music and betting your friends you can belch out bean gases louder than they can.

If you're worried about watching your figure, you can sign up for the 5th Annual Romp and Stomp 5K to get in a good cardio workout before you ingest 5 million calories worth of chili and beer. I'll be there early...but not THAT early.

Happy Fall!